Nuggets 114, Thunder 104: Denver won their 13th game in a row and in doing so made a statement that come the playoffs they are not to be dismissed. The Thunder went cold for the first part of the third quarter, allowing the Nuggets to take a lead, then every time they tried to make a comeback Andre Miller hit a big shot. We broke this down as our game of the night.

Kings 116, Clippers 101: Here is what this loss means for the Clippers — they are now the No. 4 seed in the West, they have fallen behind Denver by half a game and percentage points behind Memphis. Can you see the Clippers — who could not contain Marcus Thornton and Toney Douglas Tuesday — beating either of those teams in the first round of the playoffs? No, me neither. That is what the Clippers have until the end of the season to change. Chris Paul will push them, but can the other players follow him? Does Vinny Del Negro have an idea how to change this?

Let’s give the Kings their due here. Behind Thornton’s 25 points total and a strong game from DeMarcus Cousins (17 points, 11 rebounds) this was a close game entering the fourth quarter. Then in the final six minutes Toney Douglas happened, with a couple corner threes and one got-to-put-it-up-to-beat-the-shot-clock ridiculously deep dagger three. The Kings played hard and well enough to win. The Clippers simply couldn’t match them. Which brings us back to the question in the first paragraph of this game recap.

Bucks 102, Trail Blazers 95: The Bucks owned the second quarter. Completely. They started it on a 16-0 run (sparked by 9 second quarter points from J.J. Redick), the Blazers shot 2-of-20 in the second quarter and the Bucks ran away with the game. Milwaukee led by as many as 27 and while Portland made some runs they were rebuffed by Brandon Jennings (24 points) and Monta Ellis (20). LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 21 points and 15 rebounds.

Pacers 95, Magic 73: Burn the tape of this game. Banish it from the face of the earth. This game was that hard to watch, especially the first half. The Magic had 29 points on 26.1 percent shooting in the first 24 minutes. By then the Pacers were running away with the game. Tyler Hansbrough got the start (David West’s back hurts) and had 14 points and 14 rebounds in a strong game for Indiana, Paul George chipped in 19. Only two Magic players reached into double digits and they each had 10 (Arron Afflalo and Mo Harkless).

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has denied the Toronto Raptors’ protest of their 102-99 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 20.

The league announced the decision Friday.

Toronto argued that the game officials incorrectly called for an instant replay review of whether the Raptors’ Terrence Ross released a 3-point shot prior to the expiration of actual time remaining.

The Replay Center official reviewed video of the play using a digital timer and determined the actual time remaining in the game expired before Ross released his shot, and the shot therefore did not count.

The league found that calling for an instant replay review in this case was consistent with the playing rules because the game officials determined that there was a clock malfunction.

You probably answered “the Clippers.” Most fans do. So do most NBA referees — And everyone else. Which is why after a recent loss to Golden State, veteran Marreese Speight (a Warrior last season) pointed to the Clippers complaining about the officiating as part of the problem.

He went on to say that the scouting report is you can get in the Clippers’ heads by knocking them around a little. Which seems pretty obvious when you watch teams play them. Shockingly, Clippers coach Doc Rivers disagrees with that. Via NBCLosAngeles.com.

“The officiating thing, I don’t think, is our issue. I will say that,” said Rivers about the technical fouls. “If that were the problem, then, Golden State would be struggling. They’ve been No. 2 the last two years in techs, too. I think we need to point fingers in another direction than that.”

Doc may not like it, but Speights is right.

The Warriors do complain too much, but they also have a ring so more is forgiven. The problem for the Clippers is that reputation for complaining starts with Rivers — he complains as much or more than any coach in the league. Then it filters down through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Is it fair that more is forgiven with winning? Moot question. Welcome to America. The Clippers complain a lot and have yet to get past the second round with this core. And at times there standing there complaining to the referees does get in the way of them getting back into defense, and they seem to go in a funk.

The Pelicans are disappointing this season — it is Anthony Davis vs. the world down there. Which is the main reason they are 7-16 this season. While things have gotten better since Jrue Holiday‘s return, Davis is averaging a league-best 31.4 points per game, it then drops off to Holiday at 15.4, and then E'Twaun Moore at 11.1.

When a team struggles, usually that is a bad sign for the coach. Not because it’s always their fault, but because GMs choose not to fire themselves for poor roster construction. Which leads to the question: Alvin Gentry, are you concerned about your job? (Warning, NSFW)

New Orleans’ struggles are not on Gentry, certainly not completely. He’d like a roster that can play uptempo, that has depth. What he got instead was a good point guard, an elite 4/5, a rookie in Buddy Hield that maybe pans out down the line, and then… nada. And the roster Gentry has often is banged up.

If anyone is in trouble, it is GM Dell Demps. Remember, Danny Ferry was hired last summer for the vague role of “special advisor.” Gentry is in his second year, and the issue is the roster he was given. But the Pelicans are a patient organization that values continuity, so… who knows. But the clock is ticking on Davis;, it’s years away, but the Pelicans need to build a team around him and are far from that right now.